More Responses to Responses

On the discussion of penetrating defensive linemen, I’m all for them. I just don’t believe that’s Isaac Sopoaga’s game. It should be, given his strength and speed, but if everything was based on physical ability Hugh Green, Mike Mamula and Jim Druckenmiller would be Hall of Famers. Sopoaga might not have the quickness in the hands or legs to consistently penetrate. The 49ers have one of the best penetrators in Marcus Douglas, who was second in the league in hitting running backs for losses.

As for the defensive linemen playing more of a one-gap scheme, that’s not what the 49ers defense is designed to do. It’s a linebacker-based defense. They are supposed to make most of the tackles and sacks, while defensive linemen occupy and even hold blockers (even though it’s illegal) to allow the linebackers to run free.

The first priority in this defense, as with most NFL schemes, is to stop the run. On passing downs, the 3-4 sets up well because the offense doesn’t know who the fourth rusher will be.

Former Vikings and Raiders defensive line coach Floyd Peters believed in a one-gap, up-the-field scheme on run or pass. The theory being that the linemen will grab running backs on their way into the backfield and he certainly had success with it in Minnesota with Roy Barker, Chris Doleman and Keith Millard.

I have asked Mike Nolan about one-gap and two-gap. He said his defense plays both schemes depending on the call.

Ideally, in his defense, the left end, who is the highlighted player, should weigh about 290 pounds. The nose tackle should be 320 to 340 pounds and the right end should be about 310-315 range. That’s how they’ve run their defenses in Pittsburgh. When they won the Super Bowl two years ago, the Steelers did it with three big defensive lineman who didn’t get much pressure (5.5 sacks from the starters).

And their ends on that team, Kimo von Oelhoffan and Aaron Smith won’t be going to the Hall of Fame.

But they had James Farrior, Joey Porter, Clark Haggins and Larry Foote at linebacker, and they accounted for 28 sacks. A team doesn’t need a great defensive line to win a Super Bowl, but they do need a great front seven. The 49ers are trying to build their defense on Pittsburgh’s linebacker-orientated defense.

Should the 49ers play more of a Floyd Peters style? I’ll leave that up to Berger.

As far the Terrell Suggs signing, would he be a great improvement over Tully Banta-Cain, or Manny Lawson or the Moore brothers – Brandon or Jay? And what will the 49ers have to pay to find out? Almost by definition, teams overpay in free agency, unless someone is signed late in the offseason. Even though Suggs is young, his declining numbers the last few years are a reason for concern and with limited free-agent bucks this year, I agree with many of you that the team should spend it on their league-worst offense.

If there isn’t a sure-fire pass rusher in free agency, why spend a lot of money? San Francisco is restricted by what’s available.

Rsaturno asked who would replace Derek Smith if he didn’t return. The team have four options – Brandon Moore, who played really well in 2006, or Jeff Ulbrich, who played well this year in limited opportunities. The 49ers believe Ulbrich is undersized for that role. The third option is to sign a run-plugging linebacker or draft one.

Drudown1984 – Nolan’s references to Suggs were off-handed, off-the-record type of remarks. He was a raw player coming in and needed a lot of coaching.